1. EQUIPMENT STANDARDS

2. EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES Skates Sticks Helmets Facemasks Mouthpieces
Goalkeeper Equipment

3. SKATES Hockey skates must be worn
Figure Skates or Speed Skates cannot be used by any player or official
Goalkeeper Skates can only be worn by goalkeepers
Players may wear any color laces
Officials must wear white laces

4. Older model skates with tubular blades must include heel tips

5. Image: “Overdrive Blade” attached to goalkeeper skate
SKATES
No additional equipment or contrivance may be attached to the skates of any player or goalkeeper
Image: “Overdrive Blade” attached to goalkeeper skate

6. PLAYER STICKS Width: Not less than 2 nor more than
63"
Width: Not less than 2 nor more than
3 inches along the blade length
Length: 12.5 inches heel to end of blade max.
Curve: Not more than 3/4 inch, measured along the bottom of the blade
Length: 63 inches tip to heel max
All edges of the blade shall be beveled
Sharp or jagged edges are not allowed
The end of a hollow shaft must be fully covered
12.5"
2" Min 3" Max
3/4" Max

7. GOALKEEPER STICKS Width : Minimum 2 inches; Maximum 3.5 inches
Heel : Maximum 4.5 inches spanning the heel
Length : 15.5 inches heel to end of blade max
Curve : Not more than 3/4 inch, measured along
the bottom of the blade (same as player)
Length : 63 inches tip to heel max (same as player)
Paddle Width : Maximum 3.5 inches
Paddle Height : Max. 26 inches, heel to top of paddle
26"
3.5"
15.5"
4.5"
2" Min 3.5" Max

8. EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
The Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) is an independent agency that develops and tests safety and standards for hockey helmets, facemasks and visors
HECC standards are the safety guideline for helmets, facemasks and visors in USAH and a HECC-approved helmet should not be altered from original manufacture
General guideline is the helmet must be worn as it was designed when removed from the box
HECC-approved equipment can be recognized by a distinctive HECC sticker on the approved equipment item
Loss of the HECC sticker does not mean that the equipment is no longer HECC-approved

9. HELMETS
All Youth and Girls players must wear HECC- approved helmets including ear protection
Adult players (Men and Women) and officials must wear a hockey helmet (HECC-approved or not)
Players may wear any color helmet
Officials must wear black helmets only
Chinstraps must be present and properly fastened
The Gretzky-style “shell” helmet is not designed for hockey and cannot be worn by any player in any classification

10. FACEMASKS & VISORS
All Youth and Girls players must wear HECC-approved full facemasks
Adult players (men and women) may wear any facemask, half-shield visor or no facemask at all
Officials are required to wear half-shield visors
All facemasks and visors must be worn properly

11. MOUTHPIECES
All Youth/Girls players, 12U and older, must wear a non-clear mouthpiece properly
8U and 10U players who elect to wear a mouthpiece must wear a non-clear mouthpiece and wear it properly
Mouthpieces are not required to be attached to the facemask
Adult players and officials are not required to wear a mouthpiece

12. GOALKEEPER HEADGEAR
Goalkeepers (below Adults) must wear HECC-approved goalkeeper facemask or HECC-approved player helmet and facemask
No goalkeeper at any level may wear a form-fitted facemask
Hanging throat/neck laceration protectors are recommended but not required

13. GOALKEEPER GLOVES BLOCKER GLOVE CATCHING GLOVE 8”
15”
BLOCKER GLOVE
Maximum size = 8” x 15”
CATCHING GLOVE
Cuff width = 8”
Circumference = 45”
45” Max Circumference
18” Max Diagonal
8"

14. GOALKEEPER LEG PADS Maximum size = 11" x 38"
Knee Strap Pad = 1.5" Thick
Calf Protectors = 1.5" Thick
Thigh Pad/Plate width = 10"
11"
38"
10"
1.5" Thick

15. PUCKS For 8U age classifications, a lightweight puck must be used
For 10U age classifications, a lightweight puck is strongly recommended
The lightweight blue puck weighs between 4 and 4.5 ounces
The standard black puck weighs 5.5 to 6 ounces

16. ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT
All protective equipment must be worn in the manner for which it was designed
BE AWARE:
Player helmets missing pieces (ear-flaps, etc.)
Goalkeeper facemasks with “Pro-model Cat-eye Mask”
Eye-level facemask wires removed
Palms of gloves removed
Casts or splints
Sticks with pointed or jagged blades
Non-medical jewelry or jewelry not covered/taped to body

17. ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
Look for equipment violations during pre-game warm-ups
Advise Team Bench or player of violations before the game starts
Requests for stick measurement or other equipment measurement (including goalkeeper equipment) must be conducted immediately

18. ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
For all equipment violations (except sticks and goalkeeper equipment):
First offense: Warning to the team bench
Additional offenses: Misconduct on the offending player
Illegal Sticks
Assess minor penalty to player
Place illegal stick in the scorer’s bench
Player may reclaim stick after game is over
Illegal goalkeeper equipment:
Assess minor penalty to the goalkeeper (no warning)

19. ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
Losing helmet during play:
Youth and girls: Immediate stoppage of play. Player must leave the ice until completion of the ensuing face-off.
Adult (except goalkeepers): Player may replace helmet or leave ice without a stoppage, but may not participate in play.
Deliberately removing helmet during play:
Minor for delay of game